Muktinath to Pokhara (10 Days)

Muktinath to Pokhara (10 Days)

Duration: 10 Days

Best Season: February-April, September to November

Altitude Range: 3710m

Difficulty: Tough

Group Size: Min. 2

Average Daily Distance: 25-30 approx.

Support: Porter, Guide-cum-Mechanic

TRIP GRADE: Tough – Long cycling days and tougher terrain (for both on- and off-road trips) requiring specific experience of more demanding and technical cycling. Vehicle support may be more limited. You should be very confident of your physical condition and bike handling skills.

MUKTINATH: The Goal of the Pilgrims

Muktinath is a pilgrimage centre for Buddhists and Hindus; you will see Tibetan traders as well as Sadhus from the far south of India. The shrines, in a grove of trees, include a Buddhist monastery and the Vishnu temple of Jiwala Mayi. An old temple nearby shelters a spring and natural gas jets, which provides Muktinath’s famous eternal flame. The earth – water – fire combination accounts for Muktinath’s great religious significance. Spectacular views of the Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Tukuche peak and several other 8000 mts peaks are visible JOMSOM: A modern town is the ‘Thakali’ homeland. Thakali people are of Tibetan origin but have their own language and customs. We fly to Jomsom from Kathmandu and initially we ride through a popular trekking trail, which leads us to many different wonderful villages rich in cultural and architectural point of view. Riding on the rocky wide and small track from Jomsom, we descend slowly to meet the paved road which takes to the beautiful Pokhara city lying on the foothill of Annapurna Mountain Range. Unlike the rest of the Nepalese Himalayas, the Annapurna mountain range does not form the border between Nepal and Tibet.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu & transfer to hotel in Thamel

Day 02: Fly or take tourist bus to Pokhara

Day 03: Fly to Jomsom, build bike and ride to Kagbeni

Day 04: Kagbeni to Muktinath holy temple

Day 05: Muktinath – Lupra – Marpha

Day 06: Marpha to Tatopani

Day 07: Tato Pani to Sarangkot

Day 08: Sarankot to Pokhara

Day 09: Take a mountain flight or drive to Kathmandu

Day 10: Departure

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrival and Transfer to Hotel Arrive in Kathmandu & transfer to hotel in Thamel, a tourist district offering numerous bars, shops and restaurants and an instant taste of Nepali life. In the afternoon we will sort out our bikes and over dinner there will be a tour briefing. O/N Guest House Altitude: 1350mts

Day 02: Kathmandu to Pokhara (Flight/Road) Fly or take tourist bus to Pokhara. You have sufficient time to explore the café’s and diners around the lake on reaching Pokhara. O/N Hotel Altitude: 820mts

Day 03: Fly to Jomsom, build bike and ride to Kag Beni There are numerous flights that service the Jomsom airstrip early each day before the Kali Gandaki wind picks up by mid morning. To get used with the altitude and the weather condition, we assemble the bikes as soon as we land in Zomsom and ride the relatively flat river trail to Kag Beni, the border – town of the recently forbidden Mustang Kingdom. O/N Guest house Altitude: 2700 mts Trail: 100% ride able

Day 04: Kag Beni to Muktinath We begin riding the 1000 mts vertical climb towards Muktinath, which is situated at 3850 mts, hence making it the highest point on this trip. The landscape is extremely dry and desert like. You may come across few trekkers and a bunch of pilgrims, many from India on their way to the holy temple and the eternal flame in Muktinath that burns from a natural gas source. O/N Lodge Altitude: 3760 mts Trail: 100% ride able

Day 05: Muktinath – Lupra – Marpha With awesome thrilling views of the Dhaulagiri and several other 8000 mts peaks on our sight we begin our descent. On the way we might pass some yak heards.This route has previously been ridden only once. We ride through Lupra where black magic and human sacrifices (on dead bodies) are a part of the community rituals. We then call the day of on reaching Marpha. A picturesque community known for its apple orchards, (the tree – line in the Himalayas is much higher than in the Alps). O/N Guest house Altitude: 2670 mts Trail: 70% ride able 30% push/carry

Day 06: Marpha to Tatopani With a fantastic downhill ahead of us, we begin our descent towards Tato Pani (hot water), which in the local language means hot water. At the end of the ride, you can pamper yourself in the natural hot spring, which is located besides the Kali Gandaki River, hence giving you the time and space to loosen up your muscles and chill to the natural sound of the wilderness. O/N Hotel Altitude: 1190 mts Trail: 100%ride able

Day 07: Tato Pani to Sarankot We carry on descending further down towards Beni following the Kali Gandaki River, before finally reaching the Baglung highway. We follow the highway up to Nau Danda and then take the dirt road to Sarankot, which also happens to be the number one viewpoint in Pokhara to enjoy the views of the Himalayas along with the sunrise and sunset. O /N Hotel Altitude: 1595 mts Trail: 100% ride able

Day 08: Sarankot to Pokhara Today we ride through a steep and narrow trail to pokhara. Make sure you check your brakes before you start a 90% downhill. Pokhara is the starting or finishing point for some of Nepal’s most popular treks. The lakes with the magnificent Fishtail dominate the mountain ranges. O/N Hotel Altitude: 820 mts Trail: 100% ride able

Day 09: Take a mountain flight or drive to Kathmandu O/N Guest house Altitude: 1350 mts

Day 10: Departure

Prices FROM in £:

groups of 1 to 5, from £999*/person

groups of 6 to 10, from £899*/person

groups of 11 to 15, from £799*/person

groups of 16 to 20, from £699*/person

groups of 21+, from £599*/person

Price Includes:

Air ticket and departure tax

Pokhara to Jomsom Guide with First Aid Kit and Mechanical Backup Porters